After opening the super '85 Ch. Canon the other night, I invited a couple of good friends (both knowledgeable wine drinkers) over last night (for me) to make a relatively fresh comparison. Still a very deep ruby with virtually no bricking. Powerful, masculine, minerally (almost ferrous) bouquet housing a brooding, classy mix of graphite, deep-set curranty fruit, briar, black olives, herbs and plenty of newish savoury oak. "Lots going on here", was Tony's first remark as he nosed the Riedel. Jamie's "Ahhh .... Bordeaux!", was also a good start (the wine had been decantered sometime before and obviously masked). From the outset, we were all surprised and most impressed by this wines' enormity and youthfulness, particularly for the vintage. If anything, the palate has quite a way to go to reach maturity. Again, fantastic quality of savoury fruit and oak, more of the brooding mineral/briar/olive character, of full body, excellent delineation, robust, firm tannins and great length. Over the next hour or two we sniffed, swirled and sipped our way through this Outstanding bottle of St. Julien until there was no more. My best sip was the last. Drink 2011-2025.
Otto, I reckon you'd like this one too, although it's at the other end of the spectrum to the '85 Canon.
